“Daniel Levy went to my house here in Noordwijk and left in the trunk, because Jack van Gelder [a local journalist] was outside”, Van Gaal said.
“It took a long time and he actually gave Manchester United the opportunity to make an offer.”
Since leaving the Red Devils, Van Gaal has resisted the urge to return to management and officially announced his retirement in early 2019.
“I am a pensioner now,” he told Dutch TV show VTBL. “I have no ambition to be a technical director or a TV pundit.
“My wife Truus gave up her job for me 22 years ago and followed me when I went abroad. I told her I would quit as a coach when I turned 55, but instead kept going until I was 65.
“She is entitled to have a life with me outside of football. I can say she is very happy. I think I could have worked as a technical director.”
Juan Mata recently revealed Van Gaal could be a scary man to play for but stressed he was also very nice and even quite emotional at times.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper coach Eric Steele, meanwhile, explained how Van Gaal was the chief reason behind David de Gea wanting to leave the club for Real Madrid.